Corona Devotionals

God doesn't just give up and go away.  If we are struggling today, and in-need of our Heavenly Father-- He is here , and that is good news to us (whether we are ready to hear it or not). But if we are running-from, ignoring, or avoiding the Lord and His plans for us today--the same Truth is true: God doesn't just give up and go away. For better or for worse, whether we agree with Him or disagree, whether we think 'our way' is better than 'His way'...God doesn't just give up and go away, and He will pursue us and His good plan for our lives.  ...God has said,  “Never will I leave you;  never will I forsake you.”  ~Hebrews 13:5 God's nearness and pursuit of us is a comfort most of the time, but if we are avoiding His will for our lives, it can almost feel like a threat.  But when we feel like God is "on our back", then this is an indicator that we are fleeing from His plans and will for us.   It's hard  to do what God tells us to sometimes...

One of our local grocery stores has a doughnut deal, where if you buy five donuts, you get a sixth one free.  My husband and I stopped in to take (delicious) advantage of the special one day, but at the checkout, the cashier got flustered and rang up too many doughnuts and then was confused about the free-donut-special.  She finally decided that all was well and gave us our total.  I am no math guru, and the sum sounded good to me, but my husband is a mathematician, and he knew something was wrong.  He looked at her screen and pointed out with kindness that she had not charged us for enough doughnuts.   She was surprised by his honesty, and grateful.   I wasn't surprised by his honesty, but I am always grateful for it.   As we left the grocery store (fully paid-for doughnuts in hand), he told me that earlier that morning he had been listening to a sermon about honesty with money and how much more  God can do with money that is hones...

Have you ever watched the introductions to a prize fight?  The boxers bounce around the ring a bit, strutting their stuff before the audience, and then they find their respective corners of the ring and are introduced. "Ladies and gentleman!  In this corner we have....", and the first competitor is announced. And then, attentions are directed to the opposite corner of the ring.  "And in  this corner we have...." Two opponents come together for a matchup.  A smash-up.  A contest...to see who will be the victor and come out on top. Merriam Webster Dictionary defines an "opponent" as a person, group, or entity that acts against another in a contest, game, argument, or conflict.    It refers to a competitor, adversary, or rival who sits on the opposite side of a debate, match, or opposing view.  It can also describe someone who opposes a specific plan, policy, or idea.   There are daily (by-the-minute?) boxing matches that go on within...

Are we feeling cursed  today?   It's a harsh question and a blunt one, but... is it relevant to us today? If we had to paint a picture of how we feel today...what we are experiencing...and what our current condition is: would a stunted shrub in the desert  be pretty accurate? Dry. Unwatered.  Unfed.  Under-nourished.   Thirsting.  Yearning.   Dying.     ..like stunted shrubs in the desert  with no hope for the future.  ~Jeremiah 17:6 We are not unseen by the Lord who loves us.   He sees us and meets us with His Word today. Cursed  is how we can feel when the woes of this world drag us to their depths.  But we serve a God who has authority over all things, and over us .  We can trust our Lord and rely on His strength--let's tell it to our minds and  our hearts today: Trust in the  Lord  with all your heart, a nd lean not on your own understanding; ( 6)  In all your...

Happy Mother's Day!  And--how fitting...we have a new mom at our house.  A mama robin , and her babies just  hatched.   I see her perched on the edge of her nest from time to time, her head peeking and pecking down into the nest and then she plops back down on her chicks.   I researched it, and robin chicks are born nearly naked (no feathers yet), with their eyes closed for a time,  and their skin is darker and translucent.  Also, they hatch hungry! Simply speaking: the baby chicks are helpless  in their first weeks, and are fully dependent on their robin-mom (and dad) until they learn to fly. Sound like anyone else that we know? Like us ? It's Mother's Day--have we thanked our mom's for all that they've done for us since birth ?  We too were born helpless and fully dependent on our mother (and father).   And God (in His perfect plan)  prescribed it that way.   And Adam called his wife’s name  Eve, ...